Motor-driven winding device for a camera

ABSTRACT

A motor-driven device for releasing the shutter, advancing the film and cocking the shutter of a camera, and permitting single frame or continuous exposures to be made. The motor control includes a single switch controlled by a relay coil. The relay coil is includable in and capable of being energized by either of two mutually exclusive circuit paths each including in series, one of the contacts of a two-position changeover switch which selects the particular path for energizing the coil. The motor controls a mechanical arrangement which has two sequences of operation; a first sequence which releases the shutter and places the changeover switch in the second position, and a second sequence which advances the film, cocks the shutter and places the changeover switch in the first position. An operating button is connected in series with the first circuit path and a transistor switch is connected in the second circuit path. A selector switch is connected between the two circuit paths. For single frame exposures the selector switch turns the transistor OFF when the button is depressed. For continuous exposures, the transistor remains ON all the time. A timing circuit is further added for time-delayed continuous exposures.

United States Patent Kimura Feb. 8, 1972 [54] MOTOR-DRIVEN WINDING DEVICE FOR A CAMERA [72] Inventor: Shuii Kimura, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Nippon Kogaku K.K., Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Dec.24, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 887,827

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 28, 1968 Japan ..43/96306 [52] US. Ci. 95/31 EL [51] Int. Cl. G031) 19/04 [58] FieldotSearch ..95/3l AC,31 EL; 352/121 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,064,522 11/1962 Fukuoka ..95/3l EL 3,448,670 6/1969 Suzuki ..95/3l EL FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 1,132,426 6/ 1962 Germany ..95/3l EL Primary ExaminerJoseph F. Peters, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Michael L. Gellner Attorney-Anton J. Wille [57] ABSTRACT A motor-driven device for releasing the shutter, advancing the film and cocking the shutter of a camera, and permitting single frame or continuous exposures to be made. The motor control includes a single switch controlled by a relay coil. The relay coil is includable in and capable of being energized by either of two mutually exclusive circuit paths each including in se ries, one of the contacts of a two-position changeover switch which selects the particular path t'or energizing the coil. The motor controls a mechanical arrangement which has two sequences of operation; a first sequence which releases the shutter and places the changeover switch in the second position, and a second sequence which advances the lilm. cocks the shutter and places the changeover switch in the first position. An operating button is connected in series with the first circuit path and a transistor switch is connected in the second circuit path. A selector switch is connected between the two circuit paths. For single frame exposures the selector switch turns the transistor OFF when the button is depressed. For continuous exposures, the transistor remains ON all the time. A tinting circuit is further added for time-delayed continuous exposures.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEB FEB 8 1972 SHEET 2 [IF 2 FIG. 2

FIG. 3

This invention relates to a motor-driven film winding, shutter cocking and releasing equipment for a camera.

Conventional motor-driven winding, shutter control equip-- ment is provided with a number of switches which control the motor directly and take into account the selection of singleframe operation, continuous operation and remote-controlled operation.

Since these numerous switches operate the motor directly, their size and capacity must be sufficient to permit the flow of motor drive current through the switches; This has caused accidents resulting from weak contacts of the switches and has been'a drawback in the prior art devices both in maintenance and in the resulting size of the device.

An object of this invention is therefore 'to remove above-mentioned defects. 7 V

A further object of this invention is to enable remote controlling with a simple circuit.

the

Another object of this invention is to provide circuit means without requiring a separate relay, such that during continuous phototaking the motor may be stopped for a fixed period 'of time during which the shutter and mirror may finish their operation thereby enabling the use of slow shutter speeds. An RC circuit is used for this purpose as a timing circuit, and it is comparatively more economical than the conventional relay.

The motor-driven winding and shutter release equipment of thecamera of this invention is so constructed that a control switch is connected in the driving circuit of the motor, which is controlled by a relay coil. A changeover-switch, alternately switched between two positions respectively, when the film winding is completed and when the shutter is released is pro-' vided. The changeover switch is in series with the relay coil. The relay coil is initially energized by depressing an operating button or remote control switch when the previous winding it completed, and the camera is ready for picture taking. This causes the motor to rotate so that the shutter is released, and

the changeover switch is operated. A transistor is connected to the circuit changed over during single-frame phototaking, the connection between the base and the emitter of the transistor is short circuited by a blocking diode when the operating button or remote control switch is being depressed to make said transistor inoperative. The relay coil is deenergized and the motor stops running when the switch is changed over right after the shutter is released. When the said operating button or remote control switch is released, the transistor is made operative, the relay is reenergized again to rotate the 7 motor, the film is wound and the shutter is cocked. The changeover switch is then returned to its other position which deenergizes the relay and the motor stops running. When making continuous photographs, the transistor is made to be in operating condition all the time by disconnecting the circuit which shorts the base and emitter of the transistor as the operating button or the remote control switch is depressed. The relay is therefore kept in operating condition during the entire period that the operating button or the remote control switch is depressed permitting continuous sequential operation of winding up of the film and shutter release wherein the motor is continuously running.

In order to perform continuous phototaking with a specified resting period following shutter release, the circuit which shorts the base and emitter of the transistor can include a timing circuit to keep the transistor in an operating state for a specified period following shutter release. The relay coil circuit will open during this time to stop the motor. After the specified period of time has passed, the timing circuit permits the transistor to operate and to energize the relay coil circuit thereby permitting the motor to perform film winding.

This invention will be described more in detail referring to illustrative embodiments shown in the drawing, in which:

FlG. 1 is a circuit diagram and a side view of a motor drive mechanism showing an embodiment of this invention in which the shutter has been released and the operating button has been freed during single phototaking;

FIG:T.2 is a circuit diagram similar to that of FIG 1 but wherein film winding has been completed and the motor is resting, and t i FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment of this invention, including a timing circuit.

lnjFl G. l, M is the motor, 1, 2, 3 and 4 are reduction gears j in which the gear 4 is formed into one unit with the cam 5 which gis provided .with a protruding flange 5a. A spring 6 pushes, the earn 5 leftward. A roller' 7 is combined into one unit with the bevel gear shaft 8. The cam 5 is fitted on a shaft 8'. with play therebetween and is constructed to move rightward. A bevel gear 8a is formed into one unit with the shaft 8 and engages-witha large bevel 'gear 9.'A coupling '10 whichconnects to the camera winding-up shaft isconnected at the end of the gear 9. A release lever .1 l and a release pin 12 which operates in the direction of the arrow serves to release the shutter; A return spring l3,returns the release pin 12.

Onelend .of'the release lever 11 is in contact with the protruding flange 5a. The lever 14 is free to rock by the move ment of protruding flange 5a of the cam 5 and operates to change :over switchSg between the a side and the b side". through one end 17.of said l'ever. .A return'spring 15 is con nectedlthereto. An operating button 17 which is'usually open,

closes a switch S, when depressed. S, is the switch of the relay coil Rewhich is in contact with the b side when the coil is deenergized, thereby shorting the motor terminals. Tr is a sil-- icon transistor. A bias resistor R serves to bias the'transistor Tr. S isa control switch for single-frame phototaking'when in position S and for continuous phototaking when in-position C. E is a power source. S, is a remote control switch in parallel with 8;. D, and D, are diodes which suppress'the arc of the motor M and the relay Ri, respectively; D is a blocking diode and is a germanium diode in the embodiment as shown.

The operation will be explained in the following in order ofactuation. FIG. 1 shows the state of operation when the operating button 17 is freed after the shutter has been released and the switch S, is opened. The base current of the transistor ,1

Tr flows along the path including the battery Ebiasresistor R-basc b" of the transistor-emitter e of the transistor-and backto battery E. Accordingly, the coil of the relay Re is energized with the current flowing along the'path including the batteryiL-E-relay Re-b side of switch S,transistor Tr and back to battery E. The switch S, is therefore changed over to the a side. The motor then runs since the current now flows through the path including the battery E's-switch S P- motor M-and'back to the battery. The cam 5 will rotate in the direction of the arrow via the gears 1, 2, 3 and 4. The bevel gear 8a also turns together with the cam 5 and the roller 7 to rotate the bevel gear 9 which winds upthe film and cocks the sudden stop because the contact with the b side works as a brake. The results of these changes during the operation are shown in the circuit of FIG. 2.

The operation of the diode D, will be described in the following. In FIG. 2.. after the switch S, has been changed to position a there exists a path from the transistor base b" to the emitter e of the circuit consisting of tliebattery E-relay Reaside of switch 8,, and control switch 8,. If the diode D, did not exist, the relay coil would be energized even after the changeover switch S, was put into position a by the current flowing through the base to emitter of the transistor, and the.

motor would not stop. To prevent this, the diode D; is inserted in reverse bias to the current flow for purpose of blocking this current flow.

If in the state of FIG. 2, the operating button 17 is depressed to close the contact S the coil of the relay Re is energized with current flowing through the path including battery E relay Re-a side of switch S -switch S -and back to battery E. The contact S is changed over to the a side, and the motor M starts rotation. When the V section of the cam 5 comes to face the roller 7, the cam 5 is shifted leftward by the spring 6 and operates the release lever 11 and the pin 12 by the flange section 5a which releases the shutter of the camera. At the same time, since the flange section 5a rotates the lever 14, the switch S is changed over to the b side by the end 16 of the lever 14.

By depressing the switch S the circuit including battery Ebias resistor Rdiode D contact S and back to battery E is now connected in a series path. The base to emitter potential of the transistor Tr is therefore only the potential equal to the voltage drop of diode D which, when a germanium diode is used as the diode D is about 0.2. Since this potential in insufficient to operate the silicon transistor Tr, the transistor stays in an OFF state as long as S is depressed and accordingly, when S is switched to position b the relay Re is deenergized and the motor M stops running. When the operating button 17 is freed, the circuit including the battery E--bias resistor Rdiode D;,switch S -and back to battery E, is now opened and the transistor Tr is brought into operating state. The relay Re then operates again and the above-mentioned sequence repeats, causing the film to wind up and the motor stops after completion of winding.

When the control switch S is placed to the continuous phototaking side c, the transistor Tr is in an operating state regardless of the state of the switch S The relay coil Re will always be energized either through the circuit including battery E-relay Rea side of switch S switch S and back to battery B, when switch S is in the a position, or through the circuit including relay Re-b side of switch S -transistor Tr and battery B when switch S is in the b position. In other words, the motor M continues running and performs continuous phototaking by repeating the phototaking and winding sequences. When the operating button 17 is freed and the switch S is opened the motor stops running after completing the last film winding.

' This procedure. is followed in the same manner when the remote control switch S is inserted in parallel with the operating button 17 and the switch S Another embodiment will be explained referring to FIG. 3, in which the interval of continuous phototaking is made variable. The speed of continuous phototaking must be determined depending on the purpose of the picture taking, the kind of shutter used, and, in the case of single-lens reflex camera, whether the mirror is raised up or not. In order to carry out continuous phototaking effectively, it is desirable to make the film winding speed as high as possible and to vary the interval between the shutter release and the initiation of the next winding depending upon the shutter used, purpose of photographing, etc. In FIG. 3, single-frame phototaking is shown by positioning switch S, into position S and high-speed continuous phototaking by positioning into position CH. The general procedure for varying interval phototaking is quite the same as explained referring to FIG. 1 and 2, and no explanation of the general operation will be given here.

In FIG. 3 Tr is a transistor, C is a capacitor, Rv is a variable resistor and R is a small resistor. A switch S is ganged to the switch S and functions to open at time of shutter release when S is placed in its b position and close at completion of the film winding'when S is placed in position a. As shown in FIG. 3, the operating button 17 is depressed to close S and the conti 'olswitch S is in the CL position. When the film-winding operation has been finished as hereinbefore described, the switch S is in the a position and the relay coil is energized through the circuit including the battery E, relay Re, a side of SWit'chS switch S and back to battery E. The switch S, is

placed into the a position, and the motor M starts to rotate to release the shutter. Simultaneously with releasing, the switch S is changed over to the b side.

At the same time the switchS is also opened. In transistor Tr the base current path including flows through the circuitbattery Evariable resistor Rvcapacitor C-base of transistor Tr -emitter of transistor Tr -battery E As a result, the base potential of the transistor Tr, becomes equal to the emitter potential of Tr, with current flowing through the path of the battery E, bias resistor R1, switch S in position CL, transistor Tr and back to battery E.

Therefore the transistor Tr, becomes nonconductive whereby, the relay coil Re becomes inoperative, and the motor M stops.

After a certain period of time, which is determined by the time constant of the variable resistor and the capacitor, has elapsed, the base current of the transistor Tr is reduced and consequently the voltage drop of the bias resistor R, is also reduced. The transistor Tr, then becomes conductive whereby the relay Re operates again to rotate the motor M and wind up the film. Since the switch S is changed over to the a position when the winding is completed, if the operating button 17 is kept depressed, the relay Re is reenergized to release the shutter. At the time the film winding is completed and the switch S is changed over, the switch S is also closed simultaneously. This discharges the charge accumulated in the capacitor C through the circuit including capacitor C-small resistor R -switch S and back to capacitor Cto prepare for the succeeding release. The resting period can be made as desired by selecting the capacitor C and variable resistor Rv properly. Since the resting period is reduced by reducing the resistance of variable resistor Rv, it is' possible to vary the interval of continuous phototaking by adjusting the variable resistor Rv.

When the switch S is to set to the CH position or the S position, the timing circuit, i.e., the circuit consisting of the transistor Tr -capacitor C-var1'able resistor Rv-small resistor R and the switch S has nothing to do with the operation, and the operation becomes the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Instead of the timing circuit as shown in FIG. 3, such circuits as the Schmidt trigger or a differential circuit could also be used. The remote control switch S has the same performance as the operating push button switch S As has been described, according to this invention, the driving current of the motor is directly controlled only by the switch contact of the relay. Chances for fault are therefore diminished and the maintenance is made easy. Moreover, not only the changeover from single-frame phototaking to continuous phototaking or vice versa is easily carried out, but also the same relay that controls the motor can be used when remote controlling and there is no need for a special relay for remote controlling. This serves to reduce the cost and since remote control is made possible by only connecting a simple remote control is made possible by only connecting a simple ON-OFF switch, the invented equipment can be conveniently used.

Furthermore, the invented equipment is advantageous both in space reduction and in cost economy, since the continuous phototaking that has a temporary resting period at releasing time needs only the connection of a simple timing circuit and can dispense with the use of a special output relay.

What is claimed is:

1. A drive device for a camera for releasing the shutter, advancing the film and cocking the shutter, capable of releasing and continuous exposure, and comprising,

a power source;

an electric motor; 1

a single switch for interconnecting said motor with said source; a relay coil for controlling said single switch; a changeover switch having first and second contact positions; I

first and second circuit paths both including said relay coil in series therein and both mutually exclusively capable of energizing said coil from said source, said first and second paths including respectively said first and second contact positions in series therein;

driving mechanism means coupled to said motor and including means for producing a first sequence of operations when said coil is energized through said first circuit path, including releasing the shutter and placing said changeover switch in said second position, and further including means for producing a second sequence of operations when said second path energizes said coil, including advancing the film, cocking the shutter and placing said switch in said first position;

an operating switch connected in series with said first circuit path; transistor switch means connected in said second circuit path, control means connected between said first and second circuit paths for keeping said transistor in an 0N state during continuous exposure operations and keeping said transistor in an OFF state when said operating button is depressed during single-frame exposure operation, and a selector switch for selectively connecting said control means into said second path.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said transistor switch means has its emitter and collector connected in series with said relay coil through said second contact position of said changeover switch, and its base connected to one end of said power source, said power source connected in parallel across said last-mentioned series connection, said selector switch, said control means and said operating button connected in series between said base and the other end of said power source, whereby when both said selector switch and said operating button are closed, said emitter-base voltage is approximately identical and said transistor is in an OFF state.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said control means includes a. diode connected in series with said selector switch and said operating button and biased to prevent base to emitter current flow when said changeover switch is in said first position.

4. A device as in claim 1 wherein said first circuit path includes in series said power source, said relay coil, said first contact position of said changeover switch and said operating button.

5. A device as in claim 2 wherein said second circuit path includes in series said power source, said relay coil, said transistor means, and said second contact position of said changeover switch.

6. A device as in claim 1 and further comprising a remote control switch detachably connected in parallel arrangement with said operating button.

7. A device as in claim 1 and further comprising a timed delay circuit switchably connected between said transistor means and said power source.

8. A device as in claim 7, wherein said timed delay circuit includes a further transistor having its collector connected to said selector switch and a capacitor and variable resistor connected between its base and one side of said power source, the other side of said power source connected to its emitter.

9. A device as in claim 8 wherein said timed delay circuit further includes additional resistor means in series with additional switch means connected in parallel across said capaci tor and wherein said additional switch means is ganged to said change over switch.

10 A device as in claim 7 wherein said selector switch is a three-positioned manually movable contact switch, said selector being connected to said operating button for its first contact position for single frame exposure, to said timed delay circuit for its second contact position for delaying the timing of continuous exposures, and is disconnected for its third position for normal continuous exposures. 

1. A drive device for a camera for releasing the shutter, advancing the film and cocking the shutter, capable of singleframe and continuous exposure, and comprising, a power source; an electric motor; a single switch for interconnecting said motor with said source; a relay coil for controlling said single switch; a changeover switch having first and second contact positions; first and second circuit paths both including said relay coil in series therein and both mutually exclusively capable of energizing said coil from said source, said first and second paths including respectively said first And second contact positions in series therein; driving mechanism means coupled to said motor and including means for producing a first sequence of operations when said coil is energized through said first circuit path, including releasing the shutter and placing said changeover switch in said second position, and further including means for producing a second sequence of operations when said second path energizes said coil, including advancing the film, cocking the shutter and placing said switch in said first position; an operating switch connected in series with said first circuit path; transistor switch means connected in said second circuit path, control means connected between said first and second circuit paths for keeping said transistor in an ON state during continuous exposure operations and keeping said transistor in an OFF state when said operating button is depressed during single-frame exposure operation, and a selector switch for selectively connecting said control means into said second path.
 2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said transistor switch means has its emitter and collector connected in series with said relay coil through said second contact position of said changeover switch, and its base connected to one end of said power source, said power source connected in parallel across said last-mentioned series connection, said selector switch, said control means and said operating button connected in series between said base and the other end of said power source, whereby when both said selector switch and said operating button are closed, said emitter-base voltage is approximately identical and said transistor is in an OFF state.
 3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said control means includes a diode connected in series with said selector switch and said operating button and biased to prevent base to emitter current flow when said changeover switch is in said first position.
 4. A device as in claim 1 wherein said first circuit path includes in series said power source, said relay coil, said first contact position of said changeover switch and said operating button.
 5. A device as in claim 2 wherein said second circuit path includes in series said power source, said relay coil, said transistor means, and said second contact position of said changeover switch.
 6. A device as in claim 1 and further comprising a remote control switch detachably connected in parallel arrangement with said operating button.
 7. A device as in claim 1 and further comprising a timed delay circuit switchably connected between said transistor means and said power source.
 8. A device as in claim 7, wherein said timed delay circuit includes a further transistor having its collector connected to said selector switch and a capacitor and variable resistor connected between its base and one side of said power source, the other side of said power source connected to its emitter.
 9. A device as in claim 8 wherein said timed delay circuit further includes additional resistor means in series with additional switch means connected in parallel across said capacitor and wherein said additional switch means is ganged to said change over switch.
 10. A device as in claim 7 wherein said selector switch is a three-positioned manually movable contact switch, said selector being connected to said operating button for its first contact position for single frame exposure, to said timed delay circuit for its second contact position for delaying the timing of continuous exposures, and is disconnected for its third position for normal continuous exposures. 